Method of and apparatus for drying thread



y L. s. FRYER EI'AL 2,288,618

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING THREAD Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Imvenfot:

LOUIS S FRYER A ND WAYNE dd om LEH TO 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H2 109 I33 I28 I35 Y 1 I ll// I I l /v ll I x L. S. FRYER 'El' AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING THREAD Filed June 10, 1940 as I u 1/ 1 /r, a

Jul 7, 1942.

I35 :2? I3 I09 m. I

Bnventonv Low; SF YER BB 74ND;

IYNEIJOKILEHTO v y 7, 1942- L. s. FRYER ETAL 2,288,618

METHOD QF AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING THREAD Filed June 10, 1940 4 She ts-Shet 3 I23 I I23 Ihwcntor:

3 LQUISSIFRYER v AND \A/AYNEJJOKILEHTO renders it less valuable.

shrinkage maybe eliminated One of thesemethods involves j' drying the] thread in the usual way on ajrigid spool, twisting thread fora second Patented July 7,19 N

1 NITED s. PATEN OFFICE ETHonoF'ANn'APPAnATUs FoannYmG Qhio, assignors to Industrial Rayon-Co nwar, 1 Lo is s. m sa was r. was, Cleveland,

Ohio.) corporation of Dela-- T A praiser run-e 10,1940, Serial No. 339,668

j I jf9 o1 ii1n ;f(ol'.34 i24) This invention relates tormethodsi of and means for drying thread or the like iii-package form.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with the drying procedure and. apparatus employed in the production ample, as single-r Thread in package form adried according "to conventionalpractice up'on a-rigid,.perforatedof thread-like articles, especially those of synthetic .or-iginsuch; for ex-' or. .m'ulti'ple-filament: threads, tapes, bands, cords and the-"like,- notably those adapted for weaving." Such-products will be referred to hereinafter :in awgenericgsense as moresatisfactory product is produced, the cost of theadditional handling tends 'to putthe prodnot at a disadvantage in a competitive market. Other processes have'fbeen developed among which a." group which have in common the fact that they employ ahighly flexible winding .spool made from wire-or the like." The principle involved is that the spool is compressed as the package shrinks, so that little 'or no tension is exerted on the thread while it'is' beingdried. In practice, however, the flexible wire core, if flexible enough to permitunrestrained shrinkage of the spool exhibits a. very-wide variationin its physi: .w

characteristics which Perhaps the inost troublesome of these factor cal and physico-chemical thread, soon loses its shape and has to be replaced. Also, difficulties are frequently experiencedinremoving the threadfrom such wire" spools for twisting and-fconing operations.

is the non-uniform shrinkage displayed throughout its length by the a finished, product. Such thread is unsuitable for employment in the. production of woven mate'- rial: cloth wovenfrom it: shrinks'so irregularly that it is frequently. torn orotherwise damaged when dried in .the usual tentering frames 'in'the course of its manufacture. r

The usual" procedure employed in dryingsuch, thread packages involves subjecting *the t a to the action of a dryingmedium simultaneously from the exteriorand-interior vof the thread package. In such operationa'the innermost lay ers of thread attempt to shrink as they are dried "doing by the rigid are. wound; consequently,

but are prevented from so core uponwhich they they arein effect stretched. The outermost laya ers, on the other handywhich dry simultaneously with the innermost .layers, shrinkslightly, but

the presence of the wet intermediate layers tends to restrict their freedom,'thus introducing a' certain' amount of. tension into them. .The inter-- mediate layers, the last to on the previously 2 dried i nermost players and thus shrink without .any appreciable restraint.

In an effort to eliminate these difliculties, thread manufacturers have devised numerous processes by which the thread is permitted to,

shrink more freely in order that subsequent the dried thread, unwinding thethread from the twist bobbin, skeining the thread, and drying the time in the formof skeins. While this procedure permits substantially free shrinkage of the thread during thesecond drying operation, the process has other objectionable aspects. For instance, although a somewhat arecushioned -up- The presentfinven'tion contemplates the use of a"h'ighly flexible core possessing the ability as withstand innumerable fleXili S but adapted to be retractedwithin" the inner surface of the mechanical means, leaving in what may be termed position; By virtue of the fact that is eliminated. The dry into the thread. Thread produced acuse sent the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1' is an elevation of the drying apparatus and its associated tional elevation on an equipment. Figure 2 isa see- Fig ure 3. 'l igure 5 represents'a'considerably enlarged' section, with and package showing the manner of supporting the package on the spool.

, As shown in Figures 1,' 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of fully enclosed insulated cabinets l0 ar- In the am .inpanying drawings, which repreenlarged scale as seen H ,from line 2-2 of Figure 1.. "Figure3is aneleva f tion on the "sameenlarged scale of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. ure 4 is a sectional plan'from line 4-4 of Fig-* v parts in elevation, of one of the spool-mountings. Figure 6 is an elevation a flexible corrugatedspool carrying'the thread package. Figure 7'isan end elevation of a spool ranged in a double row. back to back. extending longitudinally ofand at some distance above a multiple unit supply duct ll. Vertically extending frame members ll spaced longitudinally of horizontal frame members ll carry spacer members l2 and lateral frame members II which support cabinets 10 in the desired relation to supply duct It. The latter is supported Just above floor level by blocks l'l.

Each cabinet I preferably comprises a spool compartment II, an intake chamber ti, and an exhaust chamber 21. Spool compartment II is separated from intake chamber is by a rear panel I! containing insulating materialjl. To prevent leakage of the drying medium into the spool compartment is, rear panel I. is complete- 1y sealed at the top, bottom and sides thereof by means of sponge rubber gaskets 22. It and 24,

respectively. Intake chamber 2! is separated from exhaust chamber 21 by division wall 26. Wall 28 serves as a common division between exhaust chamber 21 of one cabinet ll and the corresponding exhaust chamber on the other side of the apparatus.

Supply duct II, which serves to direct drying medium to intake chambers II and remove the moisture laden drying medium from exhaustchambers 21 of the several cabinets ll arranged therealong, is divided longitudinally thereof into a central return duct a flanked by two inlet ducts 34. An insulation jacket "is preferably provided to enclose supply duct i I for the purpose erally funnel-shaped pan 4! provided with a drain outlet iii connected by means of a drain pipe 52 to a drain conduit 53 mounted on a series of supports it. Any moisture present in the packages upon the spools when the latter are introduced into spool compartment i8 drips therefrom and is collected in drain conduit 53, which is inclined to facilitate drainage to one end of the machine, at which is located a suitable standpipe 54. Stand-pipe 54 is employed for the purpose of trapping a certain portion of the liquid in the system in order to prevent the introductio of air into the interior of spool compartments I8. I I

Each cabinet I0 is provided with a door 56 supported by hinges 51 from spacer member I! of the frame of the apparatus through which door access may be had to spool compartment is for the introduction and removal of the spools. Door 56 is provided with rubber insulation 6i surrounding its entire outer edge to insure a substantially air-tight closure when locked in place; as by means of latch is. A transparent window I! is provided in each of the doors 56 to facilitate inspection of the packages in the course of the drying operation.

To insure best results in the operation of the apparatus, it is desirable that the atmosphere within each spool compartment ll be maintained as nearly static as possible. The drying medium is introduced into the interior of each thread package in order that drying may proceed from of preventing the dissipation of heat from the heated drying medium carried by inlet ducts 34. Each inlet duct 34 is connected with intake chambers 2! on the same side of the apparatus by means of inlet branch ducts I! each of which is provided with an insulation :Iacket 38. For the purpose of controlling the flow of drying medium entering intake chamber II. inlet branch duct 29 is provided with a control damper Ii manually adjustable by means of lever 32. It is desirable to regulate the dampers in each of the several inlet branch ducts 2! in such.manner that a uniform supply of drying medium is fur nished to the intake chamber II of each of the several cabinets I0, whence it proceeds as hereinafter explained to the interior of each thread package.

For the return of the drying medium, exhaust branch ducts II connect exhaust chambers 21 members I! enclose each pair of cabinets. Beparating said side walls is an insulating panel ll extending over the central portion of the side walls directly above supply duct ll. Between the portions of side walls 0 adjacent spool compartments I8 is an air space 44 permitting circulation of the air between cabinets II in order to aid in the dissipation of heat in the interior of each of the spool compartments ll,

' Floor ll of cabinet ll is'provided within each spool compartment ll witha base'plate 41 in which are drilled a number of drain holes ll. Directly below base plate I is disposed a genthe interior to the exterior thereof. I By doing so, variations in shrinkage which result under ordinary conditions when a drying medium is applied 7 simultaneously to the inside and the outside of the package are minimized. In such circumstances, however, accurate control of the drying medium is necessary.

To that end, a constant flow of the drying medium is provided by the use in the apparatus of a blower 62 driven by motor 63. To the exhaust port 92 of blower 62 is connected an inverted U-shaped supply duct 8!. Air is passed through the blower to. the exhaust port 02, through the upwardly extending leg to of supply duct I4, through steam coil heater 61, and thence to the downwardly extending leg to of said supply duct. Leg BI is connected to inlet ducts as which supply cabinets It with heated air in the manner previously described.

Various types of humidity and temperature control mechanisms may be employed to main tain the drying medium at the desired moisture content and at a uniform temperature during the operation of the device. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by means of temperature-humidity control means 'Il. Control means Ii is provided with both a wet bulb thermometer connection I! and a dry bulb thermometer connection It located at a point Just below heater bank 01 in the downwardly extending leg U of supply duct N. A water line It and an outlet 11' connected by means oi drain pipe 16- to longitudinal conduit ss provide a constant flow of water to wet bulb thermometer connection 12'. Stand-pipe ll operates to maintain a proper liquid level for the wet bulb thermometer connection It with.an overflow outlet II to the aforementioned drain pipe 16.

A compressedair line It supplies control means Ii with compressed air to operate the temperahire regulator t2, located in line thermometric means 68, and damper control regulator 85. ture regulator 82, which is connected means II by pipe line 8|, controls the flow of the steam entering heater 6! by incoming steam line 68 and leaving by outgoing steam line 69. A temperature control 83 operated by any suitable is employed to balance the steam against that of the Temperatemperature of the drying medium.

Damper control regulator. 85, which serves to operate damper 86 damper 89 in exhaust duct 9I located in the upwardly extending leg 65 of supply duct 64, is

connected to control means 'II by a suitable connection 84. The purpose of this installation is to discharge a portion of the moisture-laden drying medium from the system at regular intervals and to introduce a like quantity of fresh drying medium. The latter is drawn in through opening 88 of duct 81 through a filtering means such, for example, as a spun-glass filter.

Connection serves to direct the drying medium from the downwardly extending leg 66 of supply duct 64 to inlet ducts 34. The entrance to each of the latter is provided with a damper 96 which may be manually operated by lever 91 to control the flow of the drying medium entering'said inlet ducts. A similar connection 94 is provided to connect central return duct 39 with the suction port 93 of blower 62, to which incoming air supply duct 81 is likewise connected.

As shown in Figure 5, therear panel I9 of each spool compartment I8 mounts a plurality of spool mounting bases I8I. Each base IN is secured to said rear panel I9 by suitable nuts I82 threaded thereon.. Shank portion I83 of base I8I extends through intake chamber 25 and division wall 26 intoexhaust chamber 21 as indicated in Figures 2 and 4, being held in place by a nut I84. Base I M is provided with a plurality of ports I85 which are separated by an equal number of webs I86 which serve to support shank I83 axially of said base and to communicate with intake chamber 25.

Supported in shank I83 is an exhaust tube I88 which extends outwardly from the center of face I81 of base I M and assists in locating the thread package upon its insertion in the apparatus.

which is seated base collar I89 which, together with cap I24,supports the thread package when the spool is placed in the apparatus preparatory to proceeding with the drying operation.

A spool I22 of the type illustrated in Figure 6 is preferably employed. Such spool forms the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 339,666. Spool I22 is characterized by a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves I38 and ridges I39 which insure flexibility and permit it to be compressed radially. Many other convenient forms of flexible spools may, however, be substituted for that above described without in any way departing from the. spirit or scope of the invention. i

Base collar I89 is applied to one end of spool I22 prior to its mounting on base I 8|, while cap I24 is mounted on the other end thereof. Base collar I89 comprises floating ring II 4 and.compression ring II3 provided with a central opening III and shoulder I2! in which one end of said spool I22 may be compressed in such manner that its inside diameter will conform substantially to the outside diameter of exhaust tube I88. Floating ring I I4 is connected to comin air supply duct 81 and .Circumferentially of the face I81" of base MI is a sponge rubber gasket II2 against to control pression ring us by means of flexible tubing place by wire clamps I and I42 II 5 held in and is so mountedwith respect thereto; for example, by means of a plurality of guide pins II6 spaced alternately with an equal number of compression springs II'I disposed about fingers II8, as to be continually forced apart. On one face of floating ring II 4 opposite to that adjacent compression ring II 3 is formed a tapered portion II9 which contacts a similarly tapered shoulder I43 formed on thread package I23 in the winding operation.

Cap I24 is generally similar in construction to base collar I89 with the exception that its compression ring I25 is provided with a blank outer face I44 and a substantially cup-shaped inner defiecting surface I26. A shoulder I2I in cap I24 operates to compress the other end of spool I22 to a diameter equal to that imposed thereon by the corresponding shoulder I2I of base collar I89. Floating ring 4' of cap I24 is identical in its construction and method of connection with that associated with base collar I89. By virtue of the compression of the spool I22 away from the'interior of thread package I 23, the package itself is completely supported away from the outer surface of said spool by means of tapei'ed portions H9 and 9' of floating rings H4 and H4 forming part of base collar I89 and cap I24, respectively.

The base collar and cap above described are claimed in copending application Serial No.

In view of the flexible mounting of floating rings H4 and 4' with respect to compression rings H3 and I25 of base collar I89 and cap I24, respectively, and by virtue of the force exerted by springs II! and H1 forming a part of said mounting, contact is constantly maintained between shoulders I43 and I43 of thread package I23 and tapered portions H9 and floating rings H4 and 4', respectively. Since floating rings H4 and 4' are capable of movement under the influence of springs II! and 1' within the limits imposed by guide pins H6 and II 6 and holes I46 and I46 in which said pins slide, said rings are permitted to follow the thread package I23 as it shrinks during the drying operation. As a result, package I23 is suspended about spool I22 so as to leave a generally cylin- II9' of said v drically shaped air space I45 enveloping said spool and is thus free at all times from restraining forces likely to introduce tension into the thread.

Mounted on the side walls 43 of each spool compartment I8, as by means of brackets I29 and bolts I3I, are a number of compression clamping means I 28 one of which is illustrated in detail in Figure 5. One such clamping means I28 is provided for each spool mounting and is so disposed with respect thereto that its butt portion I36 is adapted to seat in depression I31 in the blank face I44 of cap I24 to provide support for the spool and package during the drying operation. Handle I36 is provided in order that the operator when inserting a thread package in the dried.

the drying apparatus .from the processing apparatus in which they have been subjected to liquid processing treatment. Spool mounting A in Figure 3 exhibiting face I01 of spool mounting base IM and exhaust tube I08 protruding from shank I03 supported by webs I06 shows the apparatus as it appears at such time; i. e., preparatory to the insertion of spool I22. Reference character B indicates a similar mounting with base collar I09 in place, while C represents a corresponding mounting with the spool and thread package inserted but with cap I24 not yet in place.

It is preferable when placing the spools in the apparatus to insert one end of spool I22 in base collar I09 and to apply cap I24 to the other end before positioning the unit as a whole on the spool mounting base IOI in spool compartment I8. In this fashion, proper positioning of thread package I23 with respect to shoulder portions I I9 and N8 of floating rings H4 and 4' of base collar I09 and cap I24, respectively, will be insured. When thus assembled, spool I22 is slipped over the end of exhaust tube I08 so that base collar I09 is seated firmly against rubber gasket I I2,

after which clamping means I28 can be applied to cap I24.

Spools I22 bearing thread packages I23 are similarly inserted in each of the several positions in spool compartment I8 and when all are in place door 55 is closed and locked by means of latch 58. In every instance package I23 is supported solely by tapered portions I I9 and I I8 of floating rings H4 and H4 of base collar I09 and cap I24, respectively, so as to form air space I45 as hereinbefore explained. Spool I22, as shown in Figure 5, remains in fixed position, being held by shoulders I2I and I21, but thread package I23 is free to move radially as well as longitudinally.

Drying medium enters the space I45 from intake chamber by passing through ports I05 in spool mounting base IOI, through opening III in base collar I09 and along grooves I38 of spool I22.. Blower 52, by reason of its connection to the system, drives the drying medium into the several intake chambers 25 and simultaneously induces a slight suction in exhaust chambers 21 of the apparatus, thus serving to keep the drying medium in motion. By virtue of the constant circulation of the drying medium, it is caused to pass along the innermost layers of package I23 toward cap I24, the inner deflecting surface I25 of which directs the drying medium as indicated by the arrows toward the exhaust tube I 08 which communicates by means of bore I4I of shank I03 with exhaust chamber 21.

Although thread package I23 is normally porous, when it is wet the drying medium fails, due to moisture trapped therein, to penetrate the interstices in the windings. Thus practically none of the drying medium passes through the package so as to cause currents in or to raise the temperature of the atmosphere contained within spool compartment I8 until after the thread packages enclosed therein are substantially completely As a result, the external layers of each package remain moist and the drying operation proceeds layer by layer from the interior toward the exterior of the package.

Upon completion of the drying operation, the spools and thread packages may be removed by releasing clamping means I28 and removing as a unit spool I22 bearing dried package I23, base collar I09 and cap I24. After the removal of the spool and thread package from base collar Numerous modifications may be made in the apparatus of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, various types of flexible spools may be employed; the spool mountings may be arranged in vertical relation rather than horizontally, as in the illus- Y trated embodiment of the invention; and a greater or lesser number of packages may be housed within a single spool compartment. Many other changes of a similar nature may be made.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The process of drying thread in the form of a package .made up of a plurality of layers wound upon a flexible core comprising the steps of compressing the core; supporting the package whollyout of contact with the outer periphery of said core so as to permit unrestrained shrinkage of the thread; sealing the ends of said core and package to prevent the escape of drying medium from the interior thereof; introducing a drying medium between the outer periphery of the core and the innermost layers of the thread package; passing said drying medium axially of the interior of said thread package; directing the spent drying medium around one end of said core; and

exhausting said spent drying medium through the inner periphery of said core.

2'. The process of drying thread in the form of a package made up of a plurality of layers wound upon a flexible core comprising the steps of compressingthe core; supporting the package wholly out of contact with the outer periphery of said core so as to permit unrestrained shrinkage of the thread; sealing the ends of said core and package to prevent the escape of drying medium from the interior thereof; introducing a. drying medium from one end of said core between the outer periphery of the core and the innermost layers of the thread package; passing said drying medium axially of the interior of said thread package; directing the spent drying medium around the opposite end of the core from that at which it was introduced; and exhausting said spent drying medium through the inner periphery of said core.

3. The process of drying thread in the form of a package made up of a plurality of layers wound upon a flexible spin spool characterized by a plurality of axially extending corrugations comprising the steps of compressing the spool; supporting the package from the ends thereof wholly independently of said spool so as to permit unrestrained shrinkage of the thread; sealing the ends of said spool and package so as to prevent the escape of drying medium from the interior of the thread package; introducing a drying medium from one end of the spool between the outer periphery of said spool and the innermost layers of the thread package; directing the drying medium axially of the corrugations of the spin spool along the interior of the thread package; and exhausting the spent drying medium by passtng it around the end of the spool withdrawing means.

site that at which it was introduced and withdrawing it through the inner periphery of the spool.

4. Apparatus for the free shrinkage drying of v thread wound in package form upon a flexible core comprising-means for supplying a drying medium; distributing means cooperating with said supply means serving to distribute said dry- 5. Apparatus for the free shrinkage drying of thread wound in package form upon a flexible core comprising means for supplying a heated drying medium; distributing means extending longitudinally of the apparatus serving to distribute said drying. medium to each of a plurality of enclosures which are arranged in series lengthwise of said distributing means,-said enclosures individually embracing one or more units each of which accommodates a single thread package and includes means for supporting said thread package wholly out of contact with the outer periphery of the flexible core; means for introducing drying medium from said distributing means between the outer periphery of the flexible core and the innermost layers of the thread package; and-means for withdrawing said drying medium through the interior oi the flexible core to exhaust means associated with said withdrawing means.

6. Apparatus for the free shrinkage drying of thread in package form upon a flexible core comprising means for supporting the thread package wholly out of contact with the suriaceof said flexible core; means for introducing drying medium between the outer surface of the flexible package; and means for removing said drying medium without contacting the exterior of said thread package.

'7. Apparatus for the free shrinkage drying of thread in package form upon a flexible core comprising means for uniformly flexible core; package from means forsupporting the thread v the ends thereof wholly out of contact with the flexible core; means for introducing drying medium between the outer surface of the flexible core and the innermost layers of the thread package; means for directing the drying medium around one endot the flexible core to the interior thereof; and means for removing the drying medium from the interior of the flexible core.

thread in package form upon a flexible core comprising means I for uniformly compressing the flexible core and supporting the thread package wholly independently of said core; means'disposed at one end of said core for introducing a drying medium into the space between the outer surface of the flexible .core and the innermost layers of the thread package; means for directing said drying medium around the opposite end oi the core from that at which it is introduced into the interior ofsaid core; and means for removing the drying medium from the interior of the core.

9. Apparatus for the free shrinkage drying of I thread wound in package form upon a flexible core and the innermost layers or the thread spin spool having a plurality of axially extending corrugations comprising means for uniformly compressing the spool and supporting the thread package wholly independently of said spool; means for introducing a drying medium at one end of the spool between the outer surface of said spool and the innermost layers of the thread package so as to follow the corrugations longitudinally of the package; means for directing said drying medium around the end of the spool opposite that at which it is introduced into the interior thereof; and means for removing said drying medium from the interior of said spool. v

Louis s. FRYER.

WAYNE J. JOKILEHTO.

compressing the 8. Apparatus for the tree shrinkage drying of 

